New Security Steps: What's It "Cost" To Be Safe?

Standing here at the Port of Wilmington in Delaware, I was surprised to see the number of Dole and Chiquita logo'd trucks driving cargo to the port. Who knew that P of W is the #1 banana port and Chilean grape import/export port in the U.S.?!

Anyhow, I'm in Wilmington for the rollout of the long-delayed and controversial Transportation Workers Identity Card (TWIC) program. The first of 750,000 workers in the nation will be enrolled tomorrow but we got a sneak peak today of the biometric cards and the enrollment process.

So far retailers aren't too worried about the new program slowing the flow of cargo traffic (per the NRF, they are more focused on the cargo screening pilot program.) The financial impact will be felt first by the trucking and transportation industries. The new TWIC cards cost workers $132.50 each in addition to a $200 health screening. While Conway is footing the bill for their drivers, YRC hasn't yet finished negotiations with union reps on whether the workers or their employers will pay.

Bigger picture impact: the independent drivers. According to the Assoc. Of Independent Truck Drivers the time and financial costs of obtaining these new cards, in addition to the already required drivers I.D.s and hazmat cards, is high. Additionally, the group estimates that there are around 100,000 drivers who are illegals. This new program will take them out of the work system and potentially cause wage inflation.

Bottom line: security doesn't come cheap (this program is estimated to cost the Fed government and Transportation Systems) about $800 million over the next ten years.

But there is also a whole new industry profiting off of these new biometric and security programs. Lockheed Martin won the $70 million contract to implement the TWIC program just this year. Will cargo be next?

Port Security Upgrade

New port security measures go into effect tomorrow at U.S. ports, and CNBC's Margaret Brennan has the details.